Device for grinding long undulation waves of railway rails

ABSTRACT

A device for grinding long undulation waves of railway rails, comprises a train of rotatable grinding wheels mounted on a rigid runner of a length greater than the longest undulation to be ground and oriented in the direction of the rail. The runner is supported from a chassis rollable on the rails by means of a suspension such that the resultant of the driving force of the runner and of the force applying the grinding wheels against the rail passes substantially through the center of the active surface of the grinding wheels to avoid the development of a force tending to pivot the runner about a transverse axis.

Ilite States Patent [1 1 App1.N0.: 131,668

Panetti June 12, 1973 [54] DEVICE FOR GRINDING LONG FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS UNDULATION WAVES 0F RAILWAY RAILS 1,060,027 11/1953 France51/178 [76] Inventor: Romolo Panetti, 24, Pare Chateau Banquet, Geneve,Swltzerla Primary Examiner-James L. Jones, Jr. [22] Filed; APR 6, 97Attorney-Waters, Roditi, Schwartz and Nissen [57] ABSTRACT A device forgrinding long undulation waves of railway rails, comprises a train ofrotatable grinding wheels mounted on a rigid runner of a length greaterthan the longest undulation to be ground and oriented in the directionof the rail. The runner is supported from a chassis rollable on therails by means of a suspension such that the resultant of the drivingforce of the runner and of the force applying the grinding wheelsagainst the rail passes substantially through the center of the activesurface of the grinding wheels to avoid the development of a forcetending to pivot the runner about a transverse axis.

13 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures DEVICE FOR GRINDING LONG UNDULATION WAVESOF RAILWAY RAILS BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention relates toapparatus for grinding railway rails.

In consequence of continuous wear and tear, the rails of railway tracksdo not remain rectilinear, but show undulation waves of various lengths.These irregularities are removed by grinding the rails. However longwaves in the range of one meter in length present certain problems.

To this effect, use has been made of individual trains of rotarygrinding wheels which correct very well, undulations of a length smallerthan the diameter of the grinding wheel, but which tend to follow theundulations of greater length.

An improvement has been brought about by the use of compensating deviceswith varying rates. These devices which redress about 70 percent of theundulation amplitude do not allow, due to their elasticity, to eliminatethem completely.

The increase of the speed of trains requires still better correction ofthese undulations for reasons of comfort and security.

In order to eliminate these undulations, the present invention providesfor a train of grinding wheels mounted on a rigid runner, of a lengthgreater than the longest undulation to be eliminated and extending inthe direction of the rail and driven by a suspension to provide passageof the resultant of the driving force of the runner and of the forceapplying the grinding wheels against the rail through the center of theactive surface of the grinding wheels.

This latter condition prevents fore and aft oscillation of the runnerinto the hollows of the long undulations.

The grinding may be effected in horizontal, vertical or inclined planesso as to be parallel to any one of the generatrix surfaces of the railhead.

A grinding vehicle may be fitted with several of these arrangements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING:

FIG. I is a side elevational view partly in section of a firstembodiment forgrinding rails in a horizontal plane,

FIG. 2 is an end view thereof partially in section,

FIG. 3 is a plan view ofa detail of the grinding wheels of FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a vehicle carrying second and thirdembodiments of a grinding means,

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view through the third embodiment inFIG. 4,

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a particular arrangement ofindividually driven wheels applicable to the first embodiment,

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the arrangement in FIG.

FIGS. 8-10 are diagrammatic representations, of the force diagrams ofthe grinding apparatus with two further embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In the first embodiment, according to FIGS. 1 to 3,of a grinding apparatus for grinding a rail in horizontal plane, arunner formed by an elongate frame 1 rotatably supports four grindingwheels 2, 3, 4, 5.

The grinding wheels lie in a common plane, parallel to the longitudinalaxis of the runner, itself oriented in the direction of the rail 6, overwhich it is suspended and advanced.

The support of the runner is such as to allow the run- .ner tooscillate, the axis of suspension of the runner passing through twotrunnions 7 and 8, and being substantially in the-center of thehorizontal active surface defined by the grinding wheels. The trunnions7 and 8 are supported at the ends of two stems 9 and 10, slidable inguides in the chassis ll of the vehicle transporting the runner. Thus,the runner is free to travel up and down at will, but is advancedlongitudinally along the rail under the power applied to the stems atthe level of the trunnions 7 and 8.

FIG. 1 shows a long undulation on the rail surface, designated by 6 onevidently exaggerated scale as to its amplitude and it is evident thatthe length of the runner is greater than the undulation.

The combination of factors that the length of the runner is greater thanthe undulation and that driving of the runner is effected through thecenter of the active surface of the grinding wheels prevents the runnerfrom descending into the undulations as the runner is driven over therail surface.

The grinding wheels are driven in rotation by a single motor 12 commonto all the wheels, through gears 13, 14, 15 and 16 mounted on the shaftsof respective grinding wheels 2, 3, 4 and 5.

An advantage resulting from this arrangement is that the direction ofrotation of adjacent grinding wheels are reversed as shown in FIG. 3 toprevent any development of lateral forces tending to move the frame 1laterally outside the profile of the rails.

Frame 1 and grinding wheels 2 to 5 can be raised and lowered to adjustthe grinding pressure to values greater than or less than the weight ofthese elements, by pivotal connection of two jacks 17 and 18 between theends of the frame l and the chassis 11.

In the second embodiment at the left of FIG. 4 there is shown anarrangement identical to that previously described, except for theposition of the wheels sup ported by the frame 19, suspended identicallyfrom the chassis20 of the vehicle. In FIG. 4, the vehicle is shown inentirety on the rail 21 to be worked.

As the undulation to be corrected is not confined to the upper face ofthe rail head, but may extend over the lateral rounded part of the head,it is preferable to dispose, not only at least one grinding wheel toeven off the top surface of the rail, but of grinding wheels forrestoring the straightness of lateral rounded part of the rail head.

Thus in this second embodiment, there is a grinding wheel 22 at theupper horizontal face of the rail and three grinding wheels 23, 24, 25slightly inclined to the horizontal for grinding the grounded part ofthe rail head.

The third embodiment is shown at the right in FIG. 4 and in elevation inFIG. 5 and comprises a runner 26, extending parallel to the rail andsupporting three grinding wheels 27, 28 and 29, disposed in a verticalplane for grinding the inner face of the rail head.

The grinding wheels 27, 28, 29 are driven, as in the case of the firstembodiment, by a common motor 30 visible in FIG. 5.

The runner 26 can oscillate around a vertical median shaft 31, supportedby a block 31'. adapted to be dis J placed horizontally in a directiongrinding plane. Y

A jack 32 serves to displace the block 31' relative to perpendicular tothe i the rail to adjust the pressure of the grinding wheels against therail and thus, to determine the grinding pressure.

As appears in the arrangement of FIG. 5, the suspension shaft 31 of therunner 26 is substantially in the grinding plane, to effect driving ofthe runner by a force in the grinding plane.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a variation of the arrangement and driving of thegrinding wheels in the case of grinding in horizontal plane.

The grinding wheels 33, 34, 35, 36, are supported by the frame 37 andare driven by individual motors 38, 39, 40 and 41. The grinding wheelsgrind the rail 42, not by their face as in the previous embodiments, butby their peripheries. The grinding wheels are vertical and form an anglewith the longitudinal direction of the rail.

The suspension of the frame, motors and grinding wheels and theadjustment of the working pressure are not described in detail, as theyare identical to the arrangement in the first embodiment in FIGS. 1 and2. On the other hand, it is advisable, similar to that shown in FIG. 3,to allow adjacent wheels 33-36 to rotate in opposite directions fromeach other, in order to offset forces tending to displace themlaterally.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate theoretically a suspension and the forcesacting therein.

When operating, the grinding wheels 43 are subjected to a force Rresisting their travel along the rail. The force R must be overcome bythe advancing force Ra pushing the wheel holding frame 44. The force F Fexerted by the jacks, equilibrates the working pressure N (ignoring theweight of the assembly).

When Ra is coincident with R, in a vertical plane as in the describedembodiments of the invention, the frame 44 would not tend to pivot,since it is not subjected to any torque.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show that the identical result may be obtained, even whensuspending the frame 44 at pivot 45, above the working plane. In thiscase, and contrary to the foregoing solution, where, by reason ofsymmetry, F F it is indispensable to unbalance these forces asrepresented in the drawing where the jack F exerts greater force thanjack F and in such a ratio that the resultant of the forces Ra and F andF passes substantially through the center of the active surface of thegrinding wheels whereby to cancel any tendency of the frame to pivotfore and aft.

Another embodiment based on a similar solution is shown in FIG. 10.

Here, the frame 46 supporting the grinding wheels 47 is supported by arigid connecting rod 48 supporting a part F, ofthe means for applyingpressure ofthe wheels against the rail. A second connecting rod isformed by a single jack 49 developing a force F 'lhese connecting rodsare convergent, so that their developed forces intersect at point 0located in the center of the active surface defined by the grindingwheels.

It is evident that thejack or jacks can also be used for retracting thegrinding wheels by raising the runners or frames when the device is outof service.

There is also provided a throttling of the feeding conduits of the jacksto serve as a means tending to damp their movements, so as to attenuatethe vibrations which might be generated by the rotation of the wheels.

A rail repairing vehicle will, of course bear one device on each side,so as to simultaneously grind both rails of the travelled track.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for grinding railway rails to remove long undulation wavestherein, said apparatus comprising a rigid runner extendinglongitudinally of the rail to be ground and having a length greater thanthe longest undulation to be removed, rotatable grinding means supportedin said runner and defining a grinding surface for contact with the railto be ground, means for applying the grinding means with force againstthe rail and means for applying force to the runner to advance therunner along the rail, the means for applying the grinding wheels withforce against the rail and the means for applying force to the runnerbeing constructed and arranged to apply forces in given direction andmagnitudes to cause the resultant of the force advancing the runneralong the rail and the force applying the grinding means against therail to pass substantially through the center of said grinding surface.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising a chas sis supporting saidrunner for pivotal movement about an axis transverse of said rails, saidresultant passing through said transverse axis and exerting zero momentabout said transverse axis whereby the runner is not subjected topivotal movement about said transverse axis by said resultant.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rail has a head withgeneratrix surfaces and said grinding surface is parallel to one of saidsurfaces.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said grinding means comprisesa wheel having opposite faces one of which constitutes at least a partof said grinding surface.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said grinding means comprisesa wheel having a peripheral surface constituting at least a part of saidgrinding surface.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said grinding means comprisesa plurality of successive grinding wheels, adjacent wheels rotating inopposite direction.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rail has a head withhorizontal and vertically inclined generatrix surfaces, and saidgrinding means comprises a first plurality of grinding wheels withhorizontal grinding surfaces and a second plurality of grinding wheelswith grinding surfaces parallel to said vertically inclined generatrixsurface of the rail head.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for applying thegrinding means with force against the rails comprises means foradjusting the magnitude of such force.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising a chassis rollablysupported on said rail, said runner being pivotably supported from saidchassis at a pair of spaced locations outside said grinding surface andlocated on opposite sides of the point at which force is applied to therunner to advance the same along the rail, the forces acting on therunner in the direction of the grinding surface and the force to advancethe runner having a resultant which passes through the center of thegrinding surface.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising a chassis rollablysupported on said rail, said runner being pivotably supported from saidchassis at a pair of spaced locations outside said grinding surface andlocated on opposite sides of the point at which force is applied tothe'runner to advance the same along the rail, said means for advancingthe runner along the rail comprising connecting rods attached to saidrunner at said spaced locations and converging towards a point locatedin the plane of said grinding surface substantially at the center of thegrinding surface.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said grinding meanscomprises a plurality of grinding tation.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for applying thegrinding means with force against the rails comprises a pair of jackslocated fore and aft of the center of the grinding surface, said jacksbeing parallel to one another and developing unequal forces so that theresultant of the jack forces and the force to advance the runner on therails passes through the center of the grinding surface.

13.. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 comprising a trunnion supportingthe runner from the chassis about said transverse axis, said trunnionbeing located at the level of said grinding surface.

1. Apparatus for grinding railway rails to remove long undulation waves therein, said apparatus comprising a rigid runner extending longitudinally of the rail to be ground and having a length greater than the longest undulation to be removed, rotatable grinding means supported in said runner and defining a grinding surface for contact with the rail to be ground, means for applying the grinding means with force against the rail and means for applying force to the runner to advance the runner along the rail, the means for applying the grinding wheels with force against the rail and the means for applying force to the runner being constructed and arranged to apply forces in given direction and magnitudes to cause the resultant of the force advancing the runner along the rail and the force applying the grinding means against the rail to pass substantially through the center of saId grinding surface.
 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising a chassis supporting said runner for pivotal movement about an axis transverse of said rails, said resultant passing through said transverse axis and exerting zero moment about said transverse axis whereby the runner is not subjected to pivotal movement about said transverse axis by said resultant.
 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rail has a head with generatrix surfaces and said grinding surface is parallel to one of said surfaces.
 4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said grinding means comprises a wheel having opposite faces one of which constitutes at least a part of said grinding surface.
 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said grinding means comprises a wheel having a peripheral surface constituting at least a part of said grinding surface.
 6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said grinding means comprises a plurality of successive grinding wheels, adjacent wheels rotating in opposite direction.
 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rail has a head with horizontal and vertically inclined generatrix surfaces, and said grinding means comprises a first plurality of grinding wheels with horizontal grinding surfaces and a second plurality of grinding wheels with grinding surfaces parallel to said vertically inclined generatrix surface of the rail head.
 8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for applying the grinding means with force against the rails comprises means for adjusting the magnitude of such force.
 9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising a chassis rollably supported on said rail, said runner being pivotably supported from said chassis at a pair of spaced locations outside said grinding surface and located on opposite sides of the point at which force is applied to the runner to advance the same along the rail, the forces acting on the runner in the direction of the grinding surface and the force to advance the runner having a resultant which passes through the center of the grinding surface.
 10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising a chassis rollably supported on said rail, said runner being pivotably supported from said chassis at a pair of spaced locations outside said grinding surface and located on opposite sides of the point at which force is applied to the runner to advance the same along the rail, said means for advancing the runner along the rail comprising connecting rods attached to said runner at said spaced locations and converging towards a point located in the plane of said grinding surface substantially at the center of the grinding surface.
 11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said grinding means comprises a plurality of grinding wheels, and a single motor for driving said wheels in rotation.
 12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for applying the grinding means with force against the rails comprises a pair of jacks located fore and aft of the center of the grinding surface, said jacks being parallel to one another and developing unequal forces so that the resultant of the jack forces and the force to advance the runner on the rails passes through the center of the grinding surface.
 13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 comprising a trunnion supporting the runner from the chassis about said transverse axis, said trunnion being located at the level of said grinding surface. 